Machine for sizing vegetables



April 1951 P. G. KLEM 2,547,473

MACHINE FOR SIZING VEGETABLES Original Filed July 22, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P. G. KLEM MACHINE FOR SIZINGVEGETABLES Original Filed July 22, 1942 April 3, 1951 1N VENTOR.

April 3, 1951' Original Filed July 22, 1942 P: G. KLEM MACHINE FORSIZING VEGETABLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 G I T INVENTOR. Fe Zer all 28WPatented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT F Fl CE EFOR SIZINGVEGETABLES Peter G. Klem, Webster, N. Y.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

451,881, July 22,, v19.42.. This application January 2,.1946, Serial No.638,646

Claims. (015209- 102?) This application is a substitute of .my earlierapplication Serial No. 451,881, filed July 22, $1942, which becameabandoned.

My present invention relates to article sortin machines and moreparticularly to machines for sizing relatively small units, such asfruits and vegetables, and it has for its object to provide a simple andefficient apparatus of this character that will not be too expensive inmanufacture and renewal of parts and which will be particularly adaptedto the sizing of elongated articles, such as carrots, parsnips, and thelike. The improvements are directed in .part toward means forstraightening out the articles in connection with a 'bed having slots sothat they will be gauged as to diameter rather than length withprovision for ejecting them gently for final'delivery where they areofsuch intermediate size that they would otherwise become wedgedin thesizing slots through which the smaller ones -or cullsare dropped. Theimprovements are further directed to' the driving means and theparticular gconstruction of the conveyors that carry the articlesthrough the separating process.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is aside elevation of 'a sizing machine constructed inaccordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section thereof taken substantiallyon the line 2 -2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fu-rtherenla-rged detail transverse section taken on theline 3--3 of v:Figure 1-;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, enlarged, of a portion -'of thesizing bed;

Figure 5 is a still further fragmentary longitudinal section passingtransversely through one conveyor shaft showing a sprocket and ejectorunit in side elevation;

Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of one of the conveyorchain links that .j'ointly constitute the sizing bed;

Figure 7 is an end view of such link:

Figure 8 is aside view of a series of the links assembled constituting afragment of one of the belts;

Figure 9 is a view of thelink looking from the opposite end from .Figure7, and

Figure 10 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal section through adjacentlinks illustrative of the manner in which they are "articulated.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

To first give an idea'of the general conception and the major elementsof my sizing machine, it comprises a body frame adapted for attach- .2ment to a hopper or feeding conveyor at its rear end .and to a gradingtable unit or similar delivery device at its forward end. Near the topof the body frame is a bed that consists of the upper reaches of aplurality of chain belts running in parallel tracks or guides whichbelts are composed of successive articulated blocks rising from chainlinks. The widths of the intervening slots determine the:minimum'diameter of the articles that are to be carried on and themaximum diameter of the culls that fall through and are deliveredlaterally by a chute for appropriate disposal. The chains run overindividual sprockets on driven shafts and the sprockets are adjustablelongitudinally of the latter to vary the widths of the slots. Thesesprocket groups are alternately free and fixed on both shafts and thetwo shafts are driven at slightly different speeds, the arrangementbeing that alternate belts receive their carrying impulse from a singleshaft although they travel around both. The result is that adjacentbelts travel at different speeds and therefore any elongated article,such as a carrot, that falls transversely across both is quicklystraightened out to be disposed longitudinally thereof when it reaches aslot between belts. If it is too small it falls through the slot. If itis of the desired size it is carried on longitudinally. in case a carrotof intermediate size wedges in the slot in an upright or similarposition means are provided at the delivery end of the bed to dislodgeit by gently raising it and tumbling it upon the receiving unit.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and first to Figure --1thereof, l indicates the body frame and B the general plane of theconveyor bed thereon confined between side boards 2. The side boardssupport a shute or pan underlying the bed :and inclined laterally towardone side of the bed so that dirt, culls, and loose tops that fallthrough the slots are deposited at one side.

At the front end of the bed, which travels from right to left in Figure1 as indicated by the arrows, is a driven shaft 3 with a correspondingidle shaft do: at the rear both mounted on suitare free to rotate onshaft 4. The belts constituting bed Band indicated generally at ltraverse the sprockets 5, 5a, pass downwardly over the sprockets 6., ha,thence re'arwardly under jockey pulleys 8 and finally return upwardlyover idler sprockets '9 free onshaft taat the rear of the bed. .A belt,that runs over a sprocket '5 on shaft 3;

travels over an idle or floating sprocket 6 on shaft 4; and a belt thatruns over an idle sprocket Ed on shaft 3 travels over a sprocket 6afixed to shaft 4. The jockeys 8 are carried on yokes 9 pivoted at It tobearing brackets l I on the frame and are tensioned downwardly bysprings [2 to maintain the chain belts taut.

The prime mover is in the present form of a motor l3 mounted on top ofthe frame I. The motor shaft I4, through suitable worm and accompanyinggearing in a gear case 15, rotates at an appropiate speed a drive shaft[6 carrying a sprocket II. A chain 18 running from the latter drives asprocket IS on a jack shaft 29 mounted in suitable bearing on top of theframe. In turn, a companion sprocket 2| also fixed to jack shaft 29,through sprocket chain 22, drives sprocket 23 fixed to driven shaft 3.Another sprocket 24 on shaft 3 drives, through a chain 25, a relativelysmall sprocket 26 fixedly secured to drive shaft 4. The gear ratio thusprovided causes shaft 4 to travel a little faster than shaft 3.

The sprockets on shaft 3 are fixed thereto by set-screws 2?. Theintervening sprockets 5a are, as already stated, freely rotatable onshaft 3. ihe sprockets 5 on lower shaft 4 are, as previously stated,freely rotatable thereon, while the sprockets 6a are fixedly securedthereto by setscrews 28. Hence a fixed sprocket on one shaft cooperateswith a free sprocket on the other to support and drive one of the beltswith the result that alternate belts I are driven by one shaft and theother, intervening belts are driven by the other shaft. Since the twoshafts 3 and 4 are driven at different speeds alternate belts I willtravel at different speeds so that one belt will always be continuouslypassing the adjacent belt even though both are traveling in the samedirection.

The effect of this is illustrated in Fig. 4. C indicates a carrot thathas been fed onto and fallen crosswise of two of the belts. Since thebelt la is traveling faster than the belt i, the carrot is being twistedaround as the end lying on the belt la is being dragged ahead by thatbelt. This result is that the carrot is being straightened out. It willfinally reach the position indicated at C where it extendslongitudinally of the belts in alignment with the slots S formed by thespaces between the belts. If the carrot is larger than these slots s itwill simply be carried on. If it is smaller than these slots at itsgreatest diameter it will fall through the slots. Thus the sizingoperation is accomplished.

However, carrots of an intermediate size have a tendency to wedgeupright in the slots S as indicated at C2 in Figure 5. To eject thesewithout injury, I provide on shaft 3 at the delivery end of the bed andat the end of each slot S ejecting disks 29 one of which is secured tothe shaft between each pair of sprockets 5 and 5a. They are secured toshaft 3 so that they have the same peripheral speed as the belts I andtheir rotating surfaces are substantially tangent to the plane of thesupporting surfaces of the bed. When a wedged carrot therefore comesinto contact with such a disk it is raised gently, as shown at C3 (Fig.5), and impelled toward the delivery point. In the present embodimentthese ejectors are separate units secured by their own set screws 3i]but it is obvious that in some instances they could be provided in theform of offset rings on sprockets 5.

The bed formed by reaches of the belts I must be maintained without sagin'a definite plane to produce uniformity in the sizing slots S and forthis purpose I provide a longitudinally disposed guide or track 3isupporting each belt as best shown in Figure 3. These tracks preferablyconsist of channel irons as shown. They are mounted each on anindividual longitudinally extending bar 32a, the bars being parallel andhaving a floating relationship to the frame I, in general, as is aboutto be described. It is desirable to keep the dirt that accompaniesfreshly dug carrots in great quantities as much as possible fromdepositing in these tracks and in the particular construction of thebelt units that I employ and hereinafter describe, this requirement ismet.

Provision is made for changing the widths of the slots S to vary thestandard of size. This is accomplished by changing the positions of thefixed sprockets 5 and 6a longitudinally of the shafts by means of theirset screws with corresponding adjustments of the ejector disks 29. Theguiding tracks 31 are also adjustable in the same direction toward andfrom each other. For this, purpose, the beforementioned bars 32a areslidable upon transverse pipes or rods 4a (Figure 3 particularly)secured as by nuts 42 in the side boards 2. Thus the tracks and thesprockets may be aligned in a variety of positions in which lateralspacing is controlled. When all this is done it will be seen that thefree sprockets 5a and 6 will adjust themselves, floating into alignedpositions being confined by their rigid tracks and the rigid sprocketson each side. The same is true of the idle sprockets 9 on shaft 41:.

Referring more particularly to Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, thecontinuous belts 1 are made up of articulated chain links. The links arecomposed of rectangular frames 32, the connecting end pieces of whichrespectively constitute a pintle 33 and a knuckle 34, the knuckleshaving the form of downwardly opening hooks. The pintles are flattenedon top and bottom as shown, and the side frame adjacent to them isnotched at 34a to the reduced size of the knuckle opening so that theknuckles may be slid on laterally with the links to be coupled in anextreme angular position not reached in service and then rotated on thepintles to an interlocked position as will be understood by chainmakers. This is a reversal of the usual coupling in which sprocket chainknuckles open upwardly or outwardly from the sprockets on which they runbut the modification is made necessary by the particular construction ofthis link in an effort to produce a smooth and practically continuouscarrot supporting surface on the belt reaches. Rising from the sides ofthe frame 32 are standards 35 on which is formed a smooth laterallyarched top plate 36 over-hanging and projected well beyond the side ofthe frame. This overhang performs several functions. It protects thetrack in which the chain runs from a great deal of the dirt accompanyingthe carrots, as aforesaid, protects the carrots from contact with theguiding tracks and it provides a definite line at the boundary of eachsizing slot. The arch of the top plate is perfectly smooth and ittisdifficult'for a carrot to lodge upon its high point without slipping oneway or the other into an adjacent slot." The standards 35 are' alsonotched at 3'! (Fig. 8) in continuation of the notches 34a. in the linkframes for the same purpose.

A sizing machine constructed in accordance with my invention may be madelarge enough to size effectively an average crop of carrots in a fewhours, yet small enough to be portable to the extent that it may beloaded upon a farm wagon or a truck and transported to the field insteadof carting the carrots to the machine. In line with this purpose, Ipreferably make my feeding and delivery units separate from the body orsizing unit. The first mentioned may be the usual slatted elevatingconveyor 38 (Fig. 1) mounted in a frame 33 that merely hooks onto framel. Such attaching means may consist of devices engaging shaft 45c thathave been omitted from Figure 1 to avoid confusion. The one requirementis that the carrots be dumped rapidly on the rear end of the bed in theregion of shaft 4:12. At the other end the carrots are delivered at thedownward turn of the sprockets 6 and 6a upon another smaller conveyor 39that transports them to the usual hand grading, sorting or packingtable.

I have confined the above description to use of the invention inconnection with the treatment of carrots for convenience of explanationbut, as stated introductorily, the field of usefulness is not solimited.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a sizing machine for separating vegetables and the like, thecombination with a conveyor bed comprising a plurality of paralleltraveling belts, adjacent belts being spaced the desired distance apartto permit undersize units to fall through the spaces between them, andmeans for driving adjacent belts at different speeds, of a plurality ofrotary disks, one of which is arranged in the space between each pair ofadjacent belts at the delivery end of the bed to project into saidspace, and means for rotating said disks, said disks being all of thesame diameter but lying beneath the outer surface of the conveyor bed atsaid delivery end.

2. In a sizing machine for separating vegetables and the like, thecombination with a conveyor them, of means for driving said beltscomprising two spaced shafts, a plurality of sprockets on each shaftover which the belts travel, alternate sprockets of each shaft beinglocked to the shaft and being idle, freely rotatable thereon,respectively, and each belt being arranged so that it travels over alocked sprocket on one shaft and an idle, rotatable sprocket on theother shaft, and means for driving the two shafts at different speeds.

3. In a sizing machine for separating vegetables and the like, aconveyor bed comprising a plurality of endless traveling belts, adjacentbelts being spaced apart to permit undersize units to fall through thespaces between them, of a pair of shafts, a plurality of wheels carriedby each shaft over which the belts travel, said wheels being adjustableaxially on their respective shafts, to determine the space betweenadjacent belts, means for locking alternate wheels of each shaft to theshaft, the remaining wheels of each shaft being idlers, freely rotatablethereon, each belt being arranged to travel over a locked wheel on oneshaft and an idler on the other shaft, and means for driving the twoshafts at different speeds.

4. In a sizing machine for separating vegetables and the like, thecombination with a conveyor bed embodying a plurality of articulatedtraveling belts, adjacent belts being spaced the desired distance apartto permit undersize nits to fall through the slots thus provided betweenthem, of a shaft at the rear feed end of the bed provided with aplurality of free floating sprockets over which the belts run, a drivenshaft at the front delivery end of the bed provided with a correspondingplurality of sprockets over which the belts also run, the sprockets onsaid driven shaft being alternately freely rotatable thereon and fixedthereto, and a second driven shaft below the first driven shaft providedwith a plurality of sprockets over which the belts also run, thesprockets on said second driven shaft being also alternately freelyrotatable thereon and fixed thereto, a fixed sprocket on one drivenshaft being arranged to cooperate with a free sprocket on the otherdriven shaft to support a given belt, the fixed sprockets on both shaftsbeing adjustable longitudinally thereof, and means for driving the twodriven shafts at different speeds.

5. In a sizing machine for separating vegetables and the like, thecombination with a conveyor bed embodying a plurality of articulatedtraveling belts, adjacent belts being spaced the desired distance apartto permit undersize units to fall through the slots thus providedbetween them, of a shaft at the rear feed end of the bed provided with aplurality of free floating sprockets over which the belts run, a drivenshaft at the front delivery end of the bed provided with a correspondingplurality of sprockets over which the belts also run, the sprockets onsaid driven shaft being alternately freely rotatable thereon and fixedthereto, a second driven shaft below the first driven shaft providedwith a plurality of sprockets over which the belts also run, thesprockets on said second driven shaft being also alternately freelyrotatable thereon and fixed thereto, a fixed sprocket on one drivenshaft being arranged to cooperate with a free sprocket on the otherdriven shaft to support a given belt, the fixed sprockets on both shaftsbeing adjustable longitudinally thereof, means for driving the twodriven shafts at different speeds, and a plurality of rotating disksarranged on the first mentioned driven shaft between the belts at thedelivery end of the bed with their peripheries substantially tangent tothe supporting surface of the belts for dislodging and ejecting oversizeunits REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 268,883 Gowan Dec. 12, 18821,178,006 Gehr Apr. 4, 1916 1,204,685 Phillips Nov. 14, 1916 1,338,276Barghausen Apr. 27, 1920 1,534,663 Sammis et a1 Apr. 21, 1925 1,694,724Rogers Dec. 11, 1923 1,841,333 Kyle et al Jan. 12, 1932 1,868,356Helenbolt July 19, 1932 2,024,846 Burgess et a1 Dec. 17, 1935 2,143,593Bryant Jan. 10, 1939 2,314,479 Christiansen Mar. 23, 1943 2,350,691Mauroner June 6, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375 HollandDec. 1,. 1916 418,685 Great Britain Oct. 30, 1934

